Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Self-injury and people with learning disabilities. Bristol Crisis Service for Women and Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol 2006 – 2009 Funded by The Big Lottery Fund. The purpose of the research. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Self-injury and people with learning disabilities
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and
Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol
2006 – 2009
Funded by The Big Lottery Fund
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
The purpose of the research
To find out more about the experiences of people with learning disabilities who self-injure, and their carers/supporters
To explore in what ways they have been supported by the services and professionals with whom they are involved
To identify ideas, and then produce resources, for training and policy development.
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
How we are doing the research
Recruitment of people with learning disabilities who self-injure
Creative approach to ‘interviews’
Up to four ‘interview’ visits
Interviews with family members and/or professionals, with consent
Grounded theory analysis using MaxQDA
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
Why people with learning disabilities say they self-injure
1. As a way of coping with difficult feelings or particularly strong feelings
2. Being in circumstances that might make a person want to self-injure
3. Wanting to achieve something as a result of the self-injury
4. The lasting impact of past experiences
5. As a way of communicating
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
1. As a way of coping with difficult feelings or particularly strong feelings
Feelings most frequently mentioned:
angry
frustrated
sad
stressed/wound up
confused
distressed
depressed
fed up
worried / anxious
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
2. Being in circumstances that might make the person want to self-injureBeing bored
Too much going on
Being over-excited
Being bullied
Being involved in, or witnessing arguments
People talking down to the person with ld
Not being able to do what the person wants to
Being in a situation where the person feels they are not coping
When someone has hurt their feelings
When bad things happen to someone else
Not liking what was happening at the time
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
3. Wanting to achieve something as a result of the self-injuryA release
To show how feeling underneath
To calm down
To blank everything out
To control others
Wanting someone to care for them/be nice to them
To avoid doing something
Wanting to sleep
Wanting to be noticed
Feeling at the time they wanted to kill themselves
To show someone else how much they’d hurt and upset them
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
4. The lasting impact of past experiences
Childhood issues: abuseneglect
Past issues regarding uncertainty: moving house, change of school, moving into new familyparent dying
Major changes occurring in the present that bring back memories of difficult past experiences
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
5. As a way of communicating
When others don’t seem to be listening
When the person with learning disabilities has difficulty in communicating
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
Final comments
We need to view self-injury as a complex and variable form of expression, and to understand its function and meaning from the point of view of the person concerned
People with learning disabilities are able to give insightful comments about their self-injury
The principles of choice, self-determination and ‘voice’ are vital
Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol, August 2008
Contact Details
Pauline Heslop, Senior Research FellowNorah Fry Research Centre, 3 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 [email protected]: +44 (0) 117 33 10980
Lorna Henry, Research AssociateBristol Crisis Service for WomenPO Box 654, Bristol, BS99 [email protected]: +44 (0) 0117 33 10986
Sandra Dowling, Research AssociateNorah Fry Research Centre, 3 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 [email protected]
